As the pulse of the global entertainment industry, visiting Los Angeles just isn’t complete without a trip to Hollywood. Its name is synonymous with the silver screen, and for most visitors the neighbourhood is all about spotting celebrities, touring film studios and getting a taste at how the rich and famous live.
From sneaking a glimpse at celebrity homes in Los Feliz and snapping selfies with “stars” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to walking the red carpet at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and reliving the Oscars at the Dolby, Hollywood never fails to dazzle.
Despite LA’s car culture, Hollywood is surprisingly well-connected by public transport. The Metro Red Line services tourist hotspots like Los Feliz, Downtown and Universal Studios, with buses whisking visitors east along Hollywood Boulevard and west to shopping and entertainment precincts like Sunset Strip and Melrose Avenue. Another great option is to jump onboard a Hollywood sightseeing bus.
For those that delve a little deeper, Hollywood is brimming with history. From the razzle-dazzle of the Golden Age to its deterioration in the 1970s and its revitalisation in the late 90s, “Tinseltown” has a history that’s as rich as the celebrities that now call it home. Hollywood is also surprisingly diverse when it comes to ethnicity, and is home to vibrant sub-neighbourhoods like Franklin Village, Little Armenia, Spaulding Square, Thai Town and Yucca Corridor.